Australian Idol

[Petra]

Who's into it?

I've always thought of the Idol series as being very much glorified Karaoke competitions and rather cabaret, but I've become totally hooked on Casey.

I missed most of the beginning and middle shows, but did catch Casey's entrance to the show. Then in the last 3(?) weeks I've been watching it, and she has completely captivated me. I get goosebumps when she sings. She has the potential to be legendary; like Bessie Smith or someone. And she's what? 16?! Wow.

I love Casey!

The other two remaining contenders are pretty strong, although I think Courtney is out this round; and neither have the power or the passion, or the beautiful pathos and "realness" of Casey's voice and performance.

GO, CASEY! :bow:

[viscousmemories]

I watched two seasons of American Idol pretty much religiously. Yeah, I know watching it betrays all that noble cynicism I have about the American consumer culture, but oh well. I think it's really inspirational to watch how hard these kids work in the face of brutal criticism (from Simon - the only honest judge, natch) and when they are "on" - especially when they aren't always "on", like some of the kids - it nearly brings tears to my eyes.

The auditions are frequently stunning, though, and not in a good way. The way some kids who simply cannot sing but think they can, and worse the number of them who seem to think they deserve fame and fortune. It's creepy.

I don't know anything about Australian Idol, or if I'd be able to see it even if I had TV.

[BigBlue2]

Who's into it?

I've always thought of the Idol series as being very much glorified Karaoke competitions and rather cabaret, but I've become totally hooked on Casey.

I missed most of the beginning and middle shows, but did catch Casey's entrance to the show. Then in the last 3(?) weeks I've been watching it, and she has completely captivated me. I get goosebumps when she sings. She has the potential to be legendary; like Bessie Smith or someone. And she's what? 16?! Wow.

I love Casey!

The other two remaining contenders are pretty strong, although I think Courtney is out this round; and neither have the power or the passion, or the beautiful pathos and "realness" of Casey's voice and performance.

GO, CASEY! :bow:
Casey has come along in leaps and bounds since the start of the show, no doubt about it. At this stage however, it's down to who has biggest fan club, rather than who is the best performer - the best singer of the bunch (IMO) was Courtney, who got voted out last week.

Having said that, I too hope that Casey wins - she's a better talent than either of last years finalists, that's for sure.

[Adora]

I fucken hate this show. I only used to watch the first series when Dicko was really narky to the first round of auditions. One of my best-friends from school audtitioned and got in TV- he was the guy in the green dragon/dinosaur suit dancing around like an idiot (yes, I have weird friends).

Cossima should have won the first series though, no doubt about it. Now the poor girl is relegated to singing Barnsey covers. *shudder*

Oh- and conspiracy time. The same church Guy Sebastian is part of (Assmblies of God) also is the church that is the Family First party. If that's not a reason to bomb the place into the ground, I don't know what is.

[viscousmemories]

I tried to watch a Casey video at what appears to be the "official" site, but the quality was so bad I couldn't distinguish her voice from the background music.

[Petra]

Yeah, the bitrate is pretty low on the online media and is awful, but this gal is something else.

Adora, the show might suck, and is glorified karaoke, but you cannot deny that every now and again a great talent gets revealed among the glossy pretties. Casey is that talent. She blows me away.

It's out of character for me to care about Idol shows and who wins them, but I really hope Casey wins. She's amazing.

I'll be watching the Live! Sydney Opera House Extravaganza! come Sunday evening, and I swear I'll cry whether she wins or not. She rips my heart out everytime she sings. My skin gets all chicken and my throat swells everytime she has sung. And I fuckin' hate it when that happens! Gah! It's in spite of myself.

[Petra]

Okay, I didn't watch it live, 'cos I woz busy.

So, I recorded it and caught up with the result this morning while doing me housework.


And.....the envelope, please.....drumroll....


:rimshot:



SHE WON! SHE WON! SHE WON!


:woohoo: :happy: :bow:


Now, let's hope that her new producers don't give her crappy, schmultzy songs to build her career on.

[RedShift]

I was glad Casey won too. Everyone was sayign Anthony was the favourite but Casey got so much good publicity and her personal story is more compelling. The first single sucks almost inevitably (Diane Warren :whup: ) but hopefully when the hype settles she will have something decent to sing.

[beyelzu]

on the subject of the idol shows.

neither johnny cash or nick cave would have even made it past the tryouts.


doesnt that say something about the show?

[Petra]

on the subject of the idol shows.

neither johnny cash or nick cave would have even made it past the tryouts.


doesnt that say something about the show?


Yes and no.


Johnny Cash and Nick Cave are songwriters and artists as well as singers - in fact, over and above being singers - and their talent and success is due to the sincerity, intelligence and depth of their songwriting, as well as an X factor that others don't have. Also, their styles don't have the wide audience appeal that is necessary to secure votes from the public, which is what keeps these young singers on the show week after week.

Interestingly, I thought Anthony might win because he's so damned good-looking. That's not to say he can't sing, because he certainly can - but I thought that the voting public would be mostly adolescent girls swooning over him.

But whatever one thinks of the show - it's contestants, audience, judges and formula - is irrelevant to the fact that Casey is a great talent with great heart, and I hope to hear much, much more from her in years to come. I suppose her year as Aussie Idol will mean she'll have to make at least one album with as wide a middle Australian appeal as possible - that'll be part of her new contractual obligations - but after this Idol year is done, I'd like to hear her really break out.

Like I said, I'm no fan of Idol shows and the industry they represent, but I'm a big fan of this one girl. She has what it takes to be a legend.

[beyelzu]

on the subject of the idol shows.

neither johnny cash or nick cave would have even made it past the tryouts.


doesnt that say something about the show?


Yes and no.


Johnny Cash and Nick Cave are songwriters and artists as well as singers - in fact, over and above being singers - and their talent and success is due to the sincerity, intelligence and depth of their songwriting, as well as an X factor that others don't have. Also, their styles don't have the wide audience appeal that is necessary to secure votes from the public, which is what keeps these young singers on the show week after week.

Interestingly, I thought Anthony might win because he's so damned good-looking. That's not to say he can't sing, because he certainly can - but I thought that the voting public would be mostly adolescent girls swooning over him.

But whatever one thinks of the show - it's contestants, audience, judges and formula - is irrelevant to the fact that Casey is a great talent with great heart, and I hope to hear much, much more from her in years to come. I suppose her year as Aussie Idol will mean she'll have to make at least one album with as wide a middle Australian appeal as possible - that'll be part of her new contractual obligations - but after this Idol year is done, I'd like to hear her really break out.

Like I said, I'm no fan of Idol shows and the industry they represent, but I'm a big fan of this one girl. She has what it takes to be a legend.


tell you what, let me know when she starts writing her own material and then we will see.

a singer without badass lyrics is like masturbating.

it can be cool, but its not the real deal :tmgrin:

But I do appreciate your response. I didnt think you were a big idol fan because we have talked about musical tastes in the past. One day maybe I will be able to listen to some music that you do :tmgrin:


however, look at cash's american recordings where he covered one by u2, solitary man by some shitty singer I dont remember, rusty cage, hurt by nin, and mercy seat by nick cave. These songs were uniquely his after he sang them. He brought something special to the songs he sang. With the exception of mercy seat, I think his versions were better.

[Petra]

tell you what, let me know when she starts writing her own material and then we will see.

I wouldn't be surprised if she does start to write at some point. I know she plays guitar as well, and I think she may be at music school, but I'm not sure.

One day maybe I will be able to listen to some music that you do :tmgrin:

Ditto. :D


however, look at cash's american recordings where he covered one by u2, solitary man by some shitty singer I dont remember, rusty cage, hurt by nin, and mercy seat by nick cave. These songs were uniquely his after he sang them. He brought something special to the songs he sang. With the exception of mercy seat, I think his versions were better.

Yeah, I have all those, and his interpetations of those songs were wonderful. He did make them his own, and they grab me everytime. Have you heard his version of Personal Jesus, the Depeche Mode song that Marilyn Manson covered? Cash was truly great. A legend.


And that's the thing with Casey - give the kid a break on the songwriting thing for now, she's only 16 and the next year will be whirlwind busy for her. But she is also a great interpreter, and has what it takes to make songs her own, irrespective of who she is covering. Give her another 10, 20, 30 years of living, laughing, crying, and singing, and she'll give you goosebumps, too. Yes, even a hardassed punk like yerself, ya big pink cock. :D

[RedShift]

Nobody is a bigger Cash or Cave fan than me. I run a country music website and Cash is pretty much my hero. I have tickets to see Nick Cave and others in the Leonard Cohen tribute at the Opera House next year.

So I get Beyelzu's point. However I also followed Australian Idol and I think its a completely different thing. It's fun, for a start. I am no fan of the music but the competition aspect keeps me interested. I like to see the individual stories of the contestants and judges unfold. Just like any other TV show. Also, people get their start in the business in many different ways, marketing, mass appeal etc have always played a part, even in the careers of Nick and Johnny. Australian Idol isnt designed to find the next Nick Cave, its designed to find the next ... Guy Sebastian.

I like to see such an unlikely Idol as Casey get up and I won't be preordering her CD but I will be interested to see what they do with her.

[beyelzu]

Nobody is a bigger Cash or Cave fan than me. I run a country music website and Cash is pretty much my hero. I have tickets to see Nick Cave and others in the Leonard Cohen tribute at the Opera House next year. You bastard, the chances of me getting to go to a nick cave concert is nil. :tmgrin:

So I get Beyelzu's point. However I also followed Australian Idol and I think its a completely different thing. It's fun, for a start. I am no fan of the music but the competition aspect keeps me interested. I like to see the individual stories of the contestants and judges unfold. Just like any other TV show. Also, people get their start in the business in many different ways, marketing, mass appeal etc have always played a part, even in the careers of Nick and Johnny. Australian Idol isnt designed to find the next Nick Cave, its designed to find the next ... Guy Sebastian.

I like to see such an unlikely Idol as Casey get up and I won't be preordering her CD but I will be interested to see what they do with her.
:shrug: well I just dont see the fascination.